Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that breastfeeding shapes IL-4 and IL-13 signaling in neonatal peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Authors: SALINAS, MICHAEL - Texas A&M University; MULAKLA, BHARATH - Texas A&M Agrilife; DAVIDSON, LAURA - Texas A&M University; DONOVAN, SHARON - University Of Illinois; CHAPKIN, ROBERT - Texas A&M University; Yeruva, Laxmi

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize circulating immune cell subpopulation gene expression in breast-fed (BF) compared to cow’s milk formula-fed (FF) infants using single cell transcriptomics. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from healthy breastfed (n=6), or cow’s milk formula fed (n=3) infants at 3 to 3.5 months of age. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to generate a PBMC atlas and to evaluate gene expression profiles in immune cell subsets. Results: Although the percentage of T and B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells were similar, monocytes were higher in FF infants than in BF infants (22% vs 10%; P < 0.05). Further, T-cell activation, T-cell cytokine production and exhaustion markers were higher in FF infants than in BF infants (P < 0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis of immune cell subsets revealed that NK cytotoxic (CD56-CD16+) cells, B cells and CD4+ memory T-cell cytokine signaling, e.g., IL-4 and IL-13 pathways, were upregulated in FF infants. Conclusion: Our data suggest that breastfeeding downregulates peripheral immune cell subsets cytokine transcriptional signatures linked to allergic inflammation and parasite infection. Funding Sources: USDA-ARS